“Naturally, we chose The New Children’s Museum. It is a place where art meets discovery, which collides with joy and exudes love.”
– Mattheus Stephens
Celebrating Happily Ever After
Not only does this year mark The New Children’s Museum’s 10th Anniversary downtown (35 years in San Diego), it also marks 10 years since the first wedding was held at the Museum! On September 9, the Museum hosted an Inaugural Wedding Anniversary Brunch, inviting all the couples who held their weddings here in the past decade. More than 30 couples came, ranging from the first couple to get married at the Museum to a couple who got married a few weeks ago. (Get a glimpse of 10 years of magical weddings at the Museum in Exquisite Weddings Magazine.)
A Walk Down Memory Aisle
The brunch was held at the park adjacent to the Museum, where couples reminisced and exchanged stories about their wedding day. Some attendees even wore their wedding dress or veil to relive the day! Although some couples have returned to the Museum with their children (a free membership is part of the wedding package), there were many who were visiting the Museum for the first time since their wedding.
We were especially honored to hear from the very first couple to get married at the Museum, Amber Cyphers and Mattheus Stephens, who are also celebrating their 10th anniversary this year.
“That day, I was going to wed the most magical person I had ever met. She was and is my everything. So it had to be special,” said Mattheus in a speech he gave at the brunch, remembering his and Amber’s wedding day. “Naturally, we chose The New Children’s Museum. It is a place where art meets discovery, which collides with joy and exudes love.”
Another significant couple that attended the brunch and had their wedding reception at the Museum in 2014 is our very own Visitor Programs Manager, Lani Cabanilla, and her husband Reggie. Theirs is a love story that is deeply rooted in the Museum.
“Our story is so unique that we knew we had to have our reception at the Museum,” said Lani. “Because the Museum is where we met, because the Museum is where he first met my daughter when she was 4 (she’s now 14), because the Museum was where Reggie last saw his mom before she passed in October 2013, and because we loved the sight of having all of our family and friends enjoy the special venue with us on our wedding day,” she explained.
The brunch concluded with a group vow renewal and fun group photos. To see photos from the event click here.
Join The Wedding Ring!
In addition to providing a space for children to explore and create art, our Museum has increasingly become a space for couples to celebrate their love with family and friends. This year alone we’re on track to host 30 weddings!
All couples who’ve celebrated their wedding at The New Children’s Museum have the exclusive opportunity to join the Wedding Ring. Your tax-deductible donation will bring children and families in need to the Museum to think, play and create, and provide you with insider access at one of your favorite places.
We thank all the couples who attended the Inaugural Wedding Anniversary Brunch and every couple who has held their wedding at The New Children’s Museum! We are grateful to be a part of your story.
Read more about the Inaugural Wedding Anniversary Brunch and past wedding stories here.
